Pasta puttanesca is the original poor man's meal. Inexpensive pasta gets a flavor kick from ingredients like anchovies, olives, and garlic.

Total Cost:
$7.14 recipe / $0.84 serving

Servings: 8

Ingredients

1lbpasta, your preference $0.79

2Tbspolive oil $0.21

1small yellow onion$0.57

4clovesgarlic $0.16

3filets anchovies $0.56

1/2tspred pepper flakes $0.05

28 ozcandiced or crushed tomatoes $2.00

10-15kalamata olives $1.76

1/3bunchfresh basil or 1 tsp. dry$0.49

2Tbspcapers $0.50

1/2Tbspbrown sugar, optional$0.02

Instructions

Fill a large pot with water (about 2/3 full) and bring to a rolling boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions (boil 5-7 minutes or until al dente). Drain in a colander.

While the pasta boils, dice the onion and mince the garlic. In a large skillet, heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil. Cook the onion, garlic, anchovy filets and red pepper flakes over medium heat until softened (5 minutes).

Add the canned tomatoes, roughly chopped kalamata olives, capers and roughly chopped basil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the pasta is done cooking (about 10 minutes). If the sauce has too much of a bite for you, add 1/2 Tbsp. of brown sugar to mellow it out.

Once the pasta is cooked and drained, add it to the skillet with the puttanesca sauce. Stir well to combine. Alternatively, place cooked past on a plate and top with a scoop of puttanesca sauce.